Rubber gloves export to increase to RM11.5bil, says MARGMA

PETALING JAYA: Export of rubber gloves from Malaysia is forecasted to increase to RM11.5bil by year-end, a 9% rise from RM10.56bil recorded in 2012, said the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (MARGMA).
The figure was lower than what was forecasted by the association in 2010, which was at RM14bil.
President Lim Kwee Shyan said the decrease was due to lower raw material prices, and increased exports of nitrile gloves.
“Nitrile glove’s raw products prices are lower,” he said.
Speaking to reporters at the Rubber Glove Industry 2013 Media Roundtable on Friday, Lim expects the global demand for rubber gloves to increase between 8% to 10% from 150 billion pieces per year.
“Demand for medical rubber gloves to remain robust on the back of population growth and improvement in health quality,” said Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd Datuk Lim Kuang Sin, adding that the demand of nitrile gloves will continue to grow moving forward.